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Helen Haines attacker likely in psychosis, prison assessment finds, as her offices reopen
Australia News9 min

Helen Haines attacker likely in psychosis, prison assessment finds, as her offices reopen

Independent MP Helen Haines remains in serious but stable condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne after she was struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office on October 19, an attack that resulted in the amputation of both legs. Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and harming a Commonwealth official. An initial custodial assessment found he was likely experiencing acute psychosis during the incident, with no indication of ideological extremism. Her electorate offices in Wangaratta and Wodonga are reopening on modified schedules, and Nugent is due back in court on February 4. Also in this briefing: RBA officials tell Senate estimates that containing inflation takes priority over rising unemployment as the jobless rate hits 4.7 per cent; tech equities retreat as OpenAI trims its private capital raise; and NASA's decommissioned Swift space observatory prepares for an uncontrolled atmospheric reentry with Australia in the orbital corridor.

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Show notes

A local barber disarmed the driver who struck Helen Haines, resulting in the amputation of both her legs.

Assessments indicate Helen Haines' attacker suffered from acute psychosis rather than any political or ideological extremism.

Australia's unemployment rate reached four point seven percent as the Reserve Bank prioritizes inflation over jobs.

OpenAI cut its planned fundraising target as investors grow skeptical of massive artificial intelligence spending.

NASA's uncontrolled Swift telescope is falling to Earth, with Australia located inside the potential debris path.

In this episode
  1. 01Intro1 min
  2. 02Helen Haines attacker likely in psychosis, prison assessment finds, as her offices reopen: What happened outside the Wangaratta office2 min
  3. 03Helen Haines attacker likely in psychosis, prison assessment finds, as her offices reopen: Custodial findings and legal proceedings2 min
  4. 04RBA tells Senate estimates inflation matters more than jobs as unemployment hits 4.7%1 min
  5. 05AI share sell-off deepens as OpenAI cuts its fundraising by $14.2 billion1 min
  6. 06Where things stand1 min
  7. 07NASA's Swift telescope set to fall to Earth, with Australia inside the reentry zone1 min
  8. 08Outro1 min
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Helen Haines attacker likely in psychosis, prison assessment finds, as her offices reopen — Fylom